Ken Waters - Has passed .......

[pressonregardless]

http://www.hoytfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1901682

[HeavyMetal]

In my opinion one of two great reloading writers, the other was Dean Grinnell who wrote for Gun World!

Dean got me into casting my own pistol and later rifle boolits, Ken showed me the right way to reload safely!

Never met either of them and my life is poorer because of it but their work is still out there for the newbies to learn from.

Those who haven't seen their work need to and fast, LOL! it's both entertaining and informative even in this century!

"Fair winds and following seas Ken" is the perfect phrase to end this post with.

[JWFilips]

I always loved his writings! I guess Pet Loads will be out of reach for most of us now!
May He Rest in Peace !

[Ithaca Gunner]

Ken was another one of he greats in the shooting world. I gained a lot of respect for him through his "Pet Loads" book.

[Bent Ramrod]

His writing alone would have been a full time career, but he did an amazing number of other jobs as well. And lived to nearly 100 in the process. A full life well lived. Ave atque Vale!

[hardy]

When I started reloading back in the eighties a workmate suggested I obtain Pet Loads. A veritable mine of information that I still use regularly and always seem to find more than I was looking for.
Godspeed Ken and Thankyou..Mike .We are diminished..

[rking22]

Will be missed, I have all the Gun Digests ....up until shortly after he left that editorial job. Always enjoyed his writing, informative and very "readable".

[richhodg66]

I have Pet Loads and it's great reading material. Looks like he had an awfully full and rewarding life and almost made it to 100. We should all be so fortunate. God speed to you, Ken.

[Reverend Al]

Another legend gone. I bought Pet Loads many years ago and consult it often ...

[Lloyd Smale]

if you haven't benifited from him your just not a real handloader.

[buckwheatpaul]

Ken was a hero of mine. I wrote him about an issue on load for a .338 Winchester and he sent me a letter back and I still have it. His book, Pet Loads, has been one of my go to books from the 1970's. Ken loved doing research on firearms and his detailed articles are second to none. I will miss him and may God hold him in the palm of his hands ..... fair winds and falling seas brother.....Paul

[square butte]

I hope his is there waiting for all of us when our time comes. Thanks Paul for the copy you gave me - It's one of my most prized and rest by my bedside.

[kenyerian]

Well time marches on. He was one of the few writers left that I really respected.

[DCM]

He will definitely be missed by the reloading community.
His pet loads are always a great standby in my room.
I always liked his practical approach, average guns, varied components and real world problem solving the average joe can do at home! Not extra long, extra heavy match grade barrels the average guy doesn't own and won't get the velocity out of because it is 4 or More inches longer than most folks will ever use in the field.
Yes he played with wildcats but he also did work on most "normal" cartridges too.
I learned a lot from him and his followers. RIP!!!

[shredder]

The dean of handloaders has gone to his reward. I will miss him. Rest in peace old soldier.

[dbosman]

Not to detract from Ken, but I never thought to write and thank him.
C.E. (Ed) Harris is still alive and participating on the CBA forums. One evening I noticed him online and took the opportunity to thank him for making my reloading life better.

I have been fortunate enough to have met Issac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. I thanked them for participation in my life.

[Blackwater]

I believe he'd been ill a number of times along his way, but he never lost his enthusiasm or curiosity, and never stopped experimenting. I'm sorry he's gone, for his loss is a very significant loss of a really good guy and writer/experimenter. He posted for a long time on another board, I believe, and told some old hunting stories that would fit in very well around ANY campfire. He seemed to always be fearless, but possessed of a very finely tuned decision making ability. He was a great hunter and shooter and experimenter, and we're not likely to see his equal again. I'm certain we'll not see anyone better. Rest in peace, my friend, and thanks for all you've given us in your time. May the good Lord bless and keep you, and cure all the infirmities you've suffered for so long now. Happy hunting! Amen.

[frankenfab]

I always loved his writings! I guess Pet Loads will be out of reach for most of us now!
May He Rest in Peace !

There are currently 15 new copies available on Amazon for $60. That's only 150% of the price of a new reloading manual, for a lot more information.

[gpidaho]

I don't know how Ken accomplished the amount that he did in one lifetime. A dedicated person to be sure and a very big help to me. I love reading Pet Loads. Well done good and faithful servant, Enter your reward. Thank you Ken. Gp

[rmark]

I was thumbing through Pet Loads just last night.

[mold maker]

I am awaiting delivery of the copy I ordered last week. Something told me not to wait any longer. Ken is an often quoted writer.

[frankenfab]

Got mine today. I had no idea it was going to be 2 inches thick. Totally worth the $60.

[dave524]

One of my favourites, another favourite reloading writer was John Wooters, I see he passed in 2013 R.I.P. If it stays warm for the weekend maybe take the Waters Contender barrel to the range , been a while.

[gwpercle]

Rest In Peace Ken , we're going to miss you .
Gary

[Blackwater]

Got my big copy of "Pet Loads" a couple of days ago, and it sure brings back memories of reading his and others' stuff back when the glossy mags had real personalities and opinionated writers, instead of reps for the advertisers. I found little help for the calibers I have, but I'll always value it anyway, just for the content of the writing, and some of the historical notes. I'm glad I finally got a copy. Ol' Ken was a really good one. Modest, but methodical and definite in his conclusions. He could tell a good story, and keep our interest up and our spirit of adventure fed. And he gave good info. This was once the standard by which gun writers were rated, but now, they seem to be rated by how glowingly they can write about some new gun that's as ugly as a pug pup. I haven't subscribed to the glossies for many years now. Just can't see paying for advertising. I just wait until a specimen comes to the local shop, and examine it myself.

Unfortunately, we don't HAVE enough walnut, nice or plain, to stock all our guns with any more. We're even over in Burma and all sorts of other places, cutting trees now to make our furniture with, and good wood is so scarce that even "good" furniture is now being made from the better grades of sawdust glued together with very think veneers on top. If you find any antiques at a decent price, BUY THEM! You won't regret it.

[Markbo]

:cry: Very sad. Via con Dios Hombre.

[barefooter175]

I grew up on Ken's research and writing. I have been blessed.

[Dale53]

I stand and salute Ken Waters! We are definitely diminished. Ken's wisdom has enriched my life for many years!

Dale53

[Sig556r]

May he rest well...his legacy is cherished

[fiberoptik]

In my opinion one of two great reloading writers, the other was Dean Grinnell who wrote for Gun World!

Dean got me into casting my own pistol and later rifle boolits, Ken showed me the right way to reload safely!

Never met either of them and my life is poorer because of it but their work is still out there for the newbies to learn from.

Those who haven't seen their work need to and fast, LOL! it's both entertaining and informative even in this century!

"Fair winds and following seas Ken" is the perfect phrase to end this post with.

+1!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kaiser]

A true Icon among reloaders, I have his big "Pet Loads" book and gave all the previous ones to a good friend when he got into reloading. I never reloaded any new (to me) cartridge without first referring to Ken's work. He was a treasure trove of source information, beginning at a time when chronographs were not common and loading cartridges was more of an art than science. While today there is more information on pressure testing and a plethora of new powders available, no reloading library is complete without his Pet Loads on the self as a primary reference. I had no idea he almost made it to 100 years of age! May he rest in peace.

[waksupi]

Not to detract from Ken, but I never thought to write and thank him.
C.E. (Ed) Harris is still alive and participating on the CBA forums. One evening I noticed him online and took the opportunity to thank him for making my reloading life better.

I have been fortunate enough to have met Issac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. I thanked them for participation in my life.

He's here, too, but I'm not going to rat him out.

[JBinMN]

Ya'll do realize that Ken Waters passed about 2 years ago when this topic was started & the OP posted on 02-18-2017, @ 07:21 PM.

Just pointing this out in case some are thinking that it just happened.


ETA: an obituary:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/kenneth-waters-obituary?pid=183542017

[PHyrbird]

I too miss his great research. Always wondered how he could afford all the components let alone arms to achieve such great detail. I treasure my copies of Handloader.

[samari46]

Have Ken's Pet Loads as well as a bunch of articles he did for both Rifle and Handloader magazines. Rest easy Ken you opened the world of handloading for generations of us. Frank